Northeastern University Athletics

Bruce E. Bickford was elected to the Hall of Fame for his feats in track and cross country.

Bickford, two time Trackman of the Year on some of the Huskies strongest teams, proved to be an overnight success as he was seventh in the New England's and seventh in the IC4A Championships as a rookie in 1975. As a sophomore, Bickford's versatility was becoming conspicuous. He improved to second in the Greater Boston Conference cross country and went on to win the New England and Greater Boston mile crowns. His resiliency was tested as a junior, when an injury forced him out of the cross country season. He rebounded with a first place finish in the IC4A two mile championship indoors and defended his New England steeplechase title in the spring. Bickford was back in all around form as a senior, when he won the GBC cross country championship. Indoors, he also annexed the coveted mile run competition in the season opening dual meet against Harvard. With his collegiate resume dotted and crossed, Bickford embarked on a prosperous national and international road racing career, specializing in the 10,000 and the 5,000 meter events. In 1985, he was rated first in the world in the 10,000 meters by the Track and Field News, and the following year he won Boston's renowned Freedom Trail Race. The road to the Olympics was clearly marked by 1988, when he won the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis to supplement his victory in the Penn Relays 10,000 meter championship. As an Olympian, he was the only American to qualify for the finals of the 10,000 meters. A gold medal in the 1989 United States Olympic Festival Half Marathon fortified his perch as one of the world's premier long-distance runners.